We sometimes cuss the springtime weather here in San Juan County, but not even the weather could deter the Lady Broncos of San Juan High as they powered their way to the 2011 2A state championship in softball last weekend in Spanish Fork.

Coach Craig Swenson’s cohorts won the second state softball title for San Juan by racing through the tournament field in impressive fashion, going 5-0. They beat the defending 2A titlests, the Grand County Red Devils and their powerful pitcher Shelby Dalton, two times in the process, including a 6-1 title game victory, interrupted by a one-hour lightening delay.

Starting on Thursday, the Lady Broncos served notice of their intentions by shellacking and shutting out Kanab 10-0 and Parowan 10-0. Allowing only one hit in the two games, Abby Bayles was masterful on the mound and the Bronco’s vaunted bats were in full flower, pounding out 21 hits as both games ended on the ten-run rule in the fifth inning.

L’Sha Eldredge gave hint of things to come with a homerun against Kanab and Parowan, along with a double and triple. Bayles helped her cause with a home run against Parowan, as did Brooke Lyman. Teasha Jacobsen also tripled against Parowan as the Broncos pounded out six extra base hits.

Next up, on Friday, was the Millard Eagles. The Broncos made short work of them, touching the Eagles for 16 hits and 10 runs in the 10-2 victory. Bayles again picked up the victory as Jacobsen blasted two doubles. Bayles, Eldredge, and Justin Hutchins also doubled in the quarterfinal win, bringing up the Grand County Red Devils in the semis.

Meeting for the fifth time this season, the game was a classic, with mighty pitching and stellar defensive play and displaying some grand patience at the plate.

Unable to find bat and ball meeting under the eyes of Grand pitcher Shelby Dalton, the Broncos were patient. When Juanita Royer was hit by a pitch and Lexus Latham drew a walk in the third inning, the Broncos had their first baserunners.

Brooke Lyman came through in the clutch, hitting a single to bring in both runners and giving Bayles all she would need to catapult the Broncos into the title game. Royer added a homerun in the fifth inning.

Now all the Broncos had to do was to wait for a challenger, which turned out to be the Red Devils, and the two teams did not disappoint. Eldredge and Bayles proved to be the difference for the Broncos, Bayles limiting the Red Devils to five hits and one run, and Eldredge knocking in five of the six Bronco runs.

The home run came in devastating fashion, on the first pitch after a one-hour lightening delay after the Broncos had put two runners on base. Eldredge’s third home run of the tournament put the game out of reach, though she added a two more runs in the next inning with a double and the Broncos had their 6-1 win and the 2A title.

Eldredge was the hitting star at the tournament, with three homeruns, three doubles and a triple.

Big bats

Coach Craig Swenson is hosting a hitting clinic in early June in Blanding. You might want to send your kids. Swenson’s girls swing the bats with astounding results. The 2011 state champs pounded out 34 homers, 15 triples, and 70 doubles this season on their way to a 23-6 record. And Broncos led in every hitting statistical category too, with four sluggers (Kelsi Meyer, Brooke Lyman, Hutchins and Royer) in the top ten in home runs, topped by Meyer’s seven dingers, and Eldredge tied for the top spot in triples with five.

Eldredge also led 2A in doubles with 13, following closely by Bayles and Royer with ten and Jolene Kirk with nine. The nice thing for Coach Swenson, is that only two players, Meyer and Bayles, are seniors.

Baseball, track, golf, tennis... it was all happening this weekend. The Bronco boys participated in the 2A boys tournament. The boys lost to eventual 2A champ Enterprise on Thursday 15-5, but rebounded to gain a spine-tingling 3-2 win over the Parowan Rams to stay alive for Friday. But the Broncos couldn’t beat North Sevier in the quarterfinals, getting eliminated 10-4 by the Wolves and grabbing fourth place.

Statistically, Stetler Shumway won the 2A home run title with four, Logan Meyer won the triples title with six, and Tyler Nielson won the doubles crown with 17.

The Monticello boys and girls both won region track championships.

Coach Jeff Hunt reports, “We had a great day. Both teams ran away with the region championships. The boys won by 147 points while the girls won by 93.

“A total of 27 Buckaroos qualified for the state meet this week at Brigham Young University.

“The two top performers for Monticello are freshman Arianna Reay, who won the 100m, 200m, long jump and anchored the 4x100m relay to victory. Devin Wright won the javelin, long jump and 400m, and was second in the high jump.

“The Duncan brothers had great days as Jake finish first in the 110m and 300m hurdles, while Dallin was first in the high jump and second in both hurdle events.

“Macee Nielson finished with two more region championships in the 3200m and 800m, and has a chance to be a rare four-time state champion if she wins the 3200m next week.

“Everyone did their part helping the team, especially new comers Swayzi Slade, who won the 400m, and Saydee Musselman finishing second. Kendal Maughan and Justin Wright won the 100m and 3200m, respectively. All six relay teams finished first or second.

“This year is the best chance in years for the teams to come home with trophies. It should be fun in Provo this week.

The Monticello boys golf team competed in Moab in the 1A state golf championships. As a team, the boys finished in fifth place, led by Tanner Eardley, who fired a two day total of 186.

Jonah Cafferty and Chase Doucet came in next with 196s, followed with Adam Black (210), Skyler Lowe (217), Kelland Brewer (252) in a tournament that featured lots of weather issues, including a lightening delay.

Eardley’s 186 placed him in eighth place individually, garnering All-State honors in the process.

Jamie Keyes (120), Shelby Lewis (125) and Amy Reeve (137) competed in the 1A/2A girls tournament on Tuesday, grabbing an eighth place finish for the Buckaroo gals, the first time ever for a girls team from Monticello to place at a state golf tournament.

And tennis. The Bronco boys grabbed eighth place as well in the 2A boys tennis championships.

Ty Hosler and Dallin Jacobsen picked the only points for the Broncos by besting a team from Waterford in the first round, 6-4, 6-3 before losing in the semifinals.

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